The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Do you want to elope tonight
Getting lost in the shadows
All dressed up like a switchblade knife
Let's hang in love from the gallows
Or we can take a walk around the lake
There's a garden in the park there
Under the stars next to the fireside
Anywhere is better than here
[Chorus]
Oh Mother Mary, take my hand
I'll be a saint, I'll be your man
I'll do most anything, 'cause I don't care
Oh Mother Mary, take my hand.
Take a ride on the midnight train
We'll fall asleep at the station
Too much wine, driving me insane
And then we'll miss our destination
Oh well, too bad, who cares, it's all right.
As long as we will stick together
In hell we'll rain a rose of sunshine
We'll watch it rise and shine forever
[Chorus]
Getting lost in the shadows
All dressed up like a switchblade knife
Let's hang in love from the gallows
Or we can take a walk around the lake
There's a garden in the park there
Under the stars next to the fireside
Anywhere is better than here
[Chorus]
Oh Mother Mary, take my hand
I'll be a saint, I'll be your man
I'll do most anything, 'cause I don't care
Oh Mother Mary, take my hand.
Take a ride on the midnight train
We'll fall asleep at the station
Too much wine, driving me insane
And then we'll miss our destination
Oh well, too bad, who cares, it's all right.
As long as we will stick together
In hell we'll rain a rose of sunshine
We'll watch it rise and shine forever
[Chorus]
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Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
I love this song sooooo much!!! It's the best song I've heard in a while. I think the lyrics are wrong though. Does it really say "I'll be a sailor"? I've been listening to it a lot and I think the chorus goes "I'll be your saint, I'll be your man". I might be wrong, but that's what I think... I love Billie Joe's voice and this song is so comforting and it makes me feel so good. Can't stop listening it. I had almost forgotten how much I love Green Day.
It says "Oh Mother Mary take my hand, I'll be a saint, I'll be your man"
Okay, just came back to say that this so reminds me of warm, light summer nights :) and why isn't anyone commenting? so amazing song. If the next GD album is as good as this I'll go crazy. And I still think some of the lyrics are wrong. at least the "fog" is supposed to be "park". sorry for bitching...
It's Park. And it's ok. You aint bitchin'. I fucking love Green Day, Ive seen them live twice. We should talk more. You sound pretty cool.
@MissNeurotic still no new album by foxboro hot tubs :(
maybe Mary is whatsernames real name O_O
lol
It does say "I'll be your saint,I'll be your man" which is pretty cool. I didnt like this song at first, but by the second listen of actually hearing the lyrics its awesome. Reminds me of some kind of untainted love, but I can see the summer connection.
After listening to this song for a while, I wonder... is it about pot? Kind of a crackhead conclusion, but I started thinking [ Mother Mary -> Mary Jane -> Marijuana ]? And since it's pretty obvious at least Billie Joe is in this band...
I like this song, either way. It makes me feel happy and relaxed... sounds like the point of pot :] Okay, enough of that. Billie Joe has a lovely voice that I find... soothing? I'm not sure if that's the word I'm looking for.
The chorus and this part, "And then we’ll miss our destination Oh well, too bad, who cares? It’s alright As long as we stick together And there will rain a row of sunshine We will watch it rise and shine forever" stick out to me
Hahaha :D yeah, pot used to be one of their favorite topics... used to. I have to say I don't exactly wanna agree with you here.
And I find his voice soothing too. It always makes me feel better when I feel helplessly lonely. I have days when GD is all I can listen to.
and also, other foxboro songs are talking about Mary. are you saying they are all about pot.
I can see the 420 connection here, but it's true that the character Mary was mentioned in another song. That could detach this song from the rest, sort of. The lyrics on this album seem to follow a story the way American Idiot did, though a bit more loosely.
Good song
It sounds kinda brit pop doesn't it? Awesome song.